Explosive-engine.



W. J. WRIGHT. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1911. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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W. J. WRIGHT.

EXPLOSIVB ENGINE.

1,023,606. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1911. Patented Apr- 16, 1912- 3SHBETSSHEBT Z.

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EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 1, 1911.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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WILLIAM J. WRIGHT, 0F FRANKLIN, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPLOSIVEFENGINE.

Specificatiim of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Continuation of application Serial No. 299,890, filed February 7, 1906.This application filed May 1, 1911.

Serial No. 624,288.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM JAMES IVRIGHT, residing at Franklin, inthe county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new andImproved Explosive- Engine, of which the following is a speci fication.

My present invention has for its purpose to provide an improvedconstruction of explosive engine, (having the parts so designed andcooperatively connected, as to obtain a maximum amount of power from theenergy employed) which can be manufactured economically and easilyoperated and main- 5 trained.

Generically, my invention comprehends a working cylinder, in which thecharge is compressed and exploded at each complete reciprocatorymovement. or cycle of the piston, a pump cooperatively joined with theworking cylinder, valve mechanism for controlling the intermittentcharges of pure air and the working agent to the pump .and from the pumpto the working cylinder, and having such special arrangement whereby theexploded mixture or residuum in the working cylinder is replaced by apractically non-compressed charge of pure air before a new charge isforced therein.

In its more complete form, my invention embodies a pair of workingcylinders, a single pump mechanism cooperativelyjoined therewith andvalve mechanisms and connections for joining the pistons of the twoworking cylinders with the crank shaft, whereby to lead the charges ofthe working agent alternately into the two working cylinders and foreffecting an explosion at each half revolution of the crank shaft.

In its more subordinate features, my present invention consists incertain details of construction and novel arrangement of parts, all ofwhich will hereinafter be fully ex plained and specifically pointed outin the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1, is a plan view of my improved engine. Fig. 2, is a similarview, the pump mechanism and a part of one of the working cylindersbeing shown in horizontal section. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal sectionofthe same on the line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is a detail viewillustrating a cam device for tripping the valve as hereinafter referredto. Fig. 5, is a detail section of the automatically actuated checkvalves E, taken on the line 55 on Fig. 1, and, Fig.6, is a detail viewillustrating a cam device hereinafter referred to, for actuating thesaid valve E.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my improved engine withthe pumping cylinder arranged as separate and independent of the workingcylinders and located above the same, with the latter mounted on asuitable frame, but I desire it understood that the correlativearrangement of the several cylinders may be modified to suit the size ofengine desired and the particular work for which the same may berequired.

In the preferred form of my invention herein shown, the same comprisesgenerally a pair of working cylinders AA of that type having one endopen, mounted upon a suitable base 10 which is integral or otherwisefast with the supporting body 10- of the engine and on which the crankshaft and the other working elements are mounted in the mannerhereinafter explained. The cylinders AA are of like construction, andeach, at a suitable distance from the charge receiving end has a mainexhaust a and at a point between the said end and the exhaust a it has asupplemental exhaust a normally held closed by a valve 1 automaticallyclosed by a valve 1 and mechanically opened at predetermined times bycam or trip devices operated in any desired way from a moving part ofthe engine. Each of the cylinders AA at its explosion end has a feedinlet that discharges into a long passage or supplemental compressionchamber, which chambers or ports are designated a and cf, the one ajoining with the cylinder A and the other with the cylinder A. The twopassages or chambers a and a communicate with an automaticallycontrolled valve mechanism B which regulates the alternate flow or feedof the airfor blowing out the burnt charge and the feeding in of a newworking agent charge to the pump cylinder, then into one of theworkingcylinders and then into the other working cylinder. At this pointit should be stated that in my present type of explosive engine, Iprovide for forcing out the burnt mixture under little or no appliedenergy or power from the engine further than crowding the cylindercleansing-air-charge, under slightly above atmospheric pressure, intothe working cylinders after the expanded force of the ignited chargeshas been spent.

To accomplish the operation and desired result mentioned, in aneconomical, positive .and simple manner, the pumping mechanism isarranged and coupled with the crank shaft in such manner as to have twocomplete reciprocatory motions of the piston devices therein, to onecomplete reciprocatory motion of each of the working pistons, and undersuch condition that during each complete reciprocatory movement of thepiston within either working cylinder, the pump piston devices willserve to first expel a charge of air from the pump cylinder to theworking cylinder back of the working piston after the exploded chargeagainst it has been spent and at the same time draw in a charge of theworking agent into the pump cylmder, and then charge the cylinder withworking agent while at the same time drawing air into the pump.

The valve mechanism B, in the preferred form of my invention is mountedon the pumping cylinder P and the said mechanism comprises a valvechamber 7), having two compartments designated p-p one of whichcommunicates with the atmosphere and constitutes the air supply, whilethe other communicates with the working agent feed pipe 77 through whichthe working agent, air and gas, or gas, is fed in any approved manner.

The bottom of the chamber 7) constitutes a valve seat and is providedwith a central outlet port C, two air passages or ports 0 c at that endof the chamber in line with the air compartment and fuel passages cZcZat that end in line with the working agent supply compartment of thevalve casing. slidably mounted on the valve seat is a D type slide valveV provided with the usual or central elongated port 11, of such length,that on opposite adjustments of the valve V it will bring the centralport 0 in communication with either the air port 0 or the gas passagecl, and at one end it has a port (Z adapted, when the valve V is soshifted as to bring its port 0 into communication with the port 0 toregister with the port (Z At the other end. the valve V has a passage orport 6%, adapted, when the port a is in communication with the port (Zto register with the air passage 0 in the valve seat, see Fig. 3, thereason for which will presently appear.

\Vithin the pump cylinder P is located a stationary piston head or endclosure 79 for the open end of the cylinder P, which has a hollowcentral stem 17 attached, that passes forward through a gland p in theclosed end of the cylinder P and terminates in a bent port-ion, see Fig.3, which connects with the ports or passages (Ztl in the valve casingbottom or seat, and at a point close up to the head 32 it has anaperture p that discharges into the cylinder P. At the front end, thecylinder P has asingle port or outlet p that communicates through thebranches p p with the air passages c 0 The central valve chamber outletG discharges into the supplemental chambers or ducts a a that connectwith the two working cylinders A and A as before stated and the saidchambers or ducts which are in the nature of connecting tubes, each havea back pressure or check valv EE near their juncture with the valvecasing.

In the drawings, I have shown the valves E-E as normally forced to theirseat by springs c, this being the simplest manner of effecting apositive closure of said valves, but, I deem it proper to state, in thepractical embodiment of my present invention for high speed enginesconstructed on the lines above referred to, I have found it desirable touse trip devices operated in any desired way from a movable part of theengine for positively thrusting the valves instantly to their openposition, see for example Fig. 6, in which F designates a cam on arotary shaft adapted to be geared with and driven from the crank axle inany desired way (not shown), which cam, at predetermined times, engagesthe stem 0 of a valve E and opens it to permit of the flow of either airor gas to the working cylinder, it being understood that there is aseparate cam for each valve E. The pump piston 79 has one end open andconnects with its rod. 5 by the spider arm members 5 and the said pistonhas a central gland 50, through which the hollow or fuel feed stem ofthe stationary piston passes and the said piston p travels over the saidstationary piston, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The piston rods for the working pistons connect with the diametricallyoppositely disposed cranks on the crank shaft S and the said shaft S,about midway its length, has a drive gear a that meshes with a smallergear or pinion s on a short supplemental crank shaft 8 with which thepiston rod of the pump piston connects and the said gear connectionsbetween the short shaft 8 and the main shaft S are such, that the shortshaft will make two revolutions as the main shaft S completes onerevolution.

Having thus generally outlined the preferred construction of my presentinvention, I shall now explain the manner of its operation and set outsome of the advantages attained thereby.

- In the operation of the engine the pump first forces air into therespective cylinders upon opening of the exhaust port a to expel thespent mixture, and then supplies working agent to the scavenged cylinderafter the piston has closed the main exhaust port. In order to reduce orbleed off the air that may remain in front of the working piston, asupplemental exhaust is provlded in advance of the main exhaust and thesupplemental exhaust is closed by a valve 1 which is mechanically openeda predetermined time by a suitable cam device 40, geared in any approvedmanner (not shown) with the crank shown to actuate the valve 1 and openit to reduce the quantity of air charged into the explosion end of thecylinder for cleansing it. By reason of th peculiar correlation of theparts mentioned and their manner of coo aeration, a very advantageousresult is produced, in that little or no working energy of the engine isrequired in blowing out the burnt mixture, since the explosion force hasfully spent itself when the piston passes the main exhaust and opens thesame, and the little force required beyond atmosphere pressure, ismerely enough to sufliciently compress the air to overcome the springresistance on the valves in the leads to the cylinders, and that is notrequired when mechanical devices are employed for positively shiftingthe valves to their open positions. It will also be observed, that byleading in a supply of fresh air to the pump cylinder in the mannerstated, and passing it into the working cylinder at the proper times,the exploded mix ture is entirely gotten rid of, without the least wasteof working agent, and the working agent is therefore not reduced in itsquality by admixture with the residuum from a prior exploded charge.

A means for shifting the valveV that controls the inflow of air and theworking agent to the pump cylinder and its transmittal to the workingcylinders, is indicated in Fig. 3 by reference to which it-will be seenthat the valve V has a stem 0 which is provided with an elongated slot5" in which plays a finger piece 5 which is made fast to the pumppiston, and which, as the pump piston reaches the limits of its strokein either direction serves to shift the valve V correspondingly to bringthe gas compartment of the valve casing G into communication with thepump cylinder and out 01f the supply of air into the pump cylinder, andwhen the pump piston is at the other limit of its stroke the valve Vwill be correspondingly shifted to out ofi the feed of gas to the pumpand bring the feed of air into operative relation.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, itis thought the complete construction operation and advantages of theinvention will be understood.

I have not shown any special type of igniting device as any kind may bearranged to ignite the compressed working agent at predetermined times.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 299,890,filed February 7, 1906.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. In an explosion engine of the character described; a pair of workingcylinders, each having an intake port and an exhaust port, a crankshaft, working pistons coupled to the crank shaft to reciprocate inalternate directions, a. pump having a single discharge, a passage toeach Working cylinder intake coupled with the single discharge in thepump cylinder, a back check valve in each of said passages, an air and aworking agent feed to the pump cylinder, a valve mechanism common to theair and the working agent feed, and an actuating means controlled by amoving part of the engine for shifting said valve to alternately leadthe air and then the working agent to the pump and means 'within thepump cylinder for drawing in and holding an air charge andsimultaneously forcing the working agent charge into the workingcylinders alternately.

2. In an explosion engine of the character described in combination witha pair of working cylinders, each having a single intake port and anexhaust port and a pump mechanism which includes a means for forcingworking agent alternately into the two explosion chambers andsimultaneously drawing air into the pump cylinder as the working agentis discharged into the explosion chambers, a valve mechanism actuatedfrom a movable part'of the engine for alternately directing the air andworking agent charges into the explosion chambers and an automaticallyactuating check valve in each passage from the pump cylinders to theintake ports of the explosion chambers, as set forth.

3. An explosion engine of the character described, comprising a pair ofworking cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a drive shaft having apair of diametrically opposite cranks with which the two working pistonsconnect, a pump mechanism constructed to simultaneously store an aircharge as it expels a working charge and to expel the air charge as itstores a working charge, connections that join the pump mechanism withthe crank shaft for eifecting two operations of said pump mechanism aseither of the working pistons make a complete movement, and a valvemechanism automatically controlled from a moving part of the engine forleading the independent air and working charges from the pumpalternately into one end of the working cylinders as set forth.

4:. In an explosion engine of the character described, the combinationwith the crank shaft having diametrically oppositely projecting cranks,the pair of working cylinders closed at one end only, each having asingle intake at the closed end, and an exhaust, of a means for storingup independent air and working charges, said means being connected withand actuated by the crank shaft and adapted to charge successively theindependent air charge and then the inde pendent working charge throughthe inlets of the working cylinders, the independent air and workingcharges first going to one working cylinder and then to the othercylinder, as set forth.

5. In an explosion engine of the character described, the combinationwith the crank shaft, the working cylinders and pistons, the latterbeing connected with the crank shaft to travel in opposite directions,each cylinder having an intake port at one end only, a main exhaustport, and a valved supplemental exhaust port, of a means for storing upindependent charges of airand working agent, and expelling said air andworking agent charges successively first through the intake port of oneworking cylinder and then through the intake port of the other cylinderand a means actuated from a moving part of the machine for tripping thevalve for the supplemental exhaust port at a predetermined time afterthe main exhaust has been opened and again closed by the movement of theworking piston, as set forth.

6. An explosion engine, comp-rising a pair of working cylinders, eachhaving an explosion compartment at one end only provided with a singlefeed port and an exhaust port, a piston in each cylinder, a main crankshaft having oppositely disposed cranks with which the two workingpistons connect, a pumping mechanism constructed to first feed a chargeof air into the explosion Copies of this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

compartment as the burnt mixture begins to exhaust therefrom and tofollow said air charge with a working agent charge as the exhaust isclosed, said operation of feeding the air and working agent chargesoccurring under one complete cycle of operation of the ump mechanism, asupplemental crank shaft connected with the pump piston geared with themain crank shaft to make two revolutions to one revolution of the crankshaft, and an automatically actuated valve mecha nism for controllingthe alternate passage of air and mixture to the pump outlet, fordelivering into the working cylinders.

7 In an explosion engine as described, in combination with the workingcylinders each having an intake port at one end only and having a backcheck valve for said intake port, a single pump mechanism havingseparate passages forthe working agent and for the air, a shifting valvemechanism with which the air and working agent passages communicate,said valve mechanism having a single outlet that communicates with thevalved intake ports to the two working cylinders, said valve including ashiftable member adapted to alternately bring the single valved intakesof the working cylinders first into communication with the air space inthe pump mechanism and then into communication with the working chargespace of said mechanism and means for connecting the working pistons andthe pump piston with the crank shaft to effect two complete movements ofthe pump piston to one complete movement of either of said workingpistons, as set forth.

WM. J. WRIGHT.

Witnesses R. L. ARMSTRONG, FRANK C. ERB.

Washington, D. C.

